Hotel Matsumoto

It's under a three-minute walk from JR Ueno Station, but the schedule feels old-fashioned: check-in is at 4 PM and check-out at 10 AM, with no option to extend your stay. You have to leave by 10. When I entered my room, I was surprised to find no refrigerator. At 7,260 yen a night, I thought that was unreasonable, so I called the front desk to complain. Thankfully, they brought one. My room had its own bathroom and toilet, though it sounds like some rooms don't. The amenities included a razor and toothbrush, but no body sponge or hairbrush. There were no tissues either, so I had to use toilet paper to blow my nose. The soundproofing is extremely poor. I could clearly hear the curtains in the next room opening and closing. Wi-Fi costs 150 yen per day. I'd give the place about two stars. As an aside, I felt the hotel lacked any sense of hospitality.

The building's exterior made me wonder what the hotel would be like, but the room had been renovated, and I thought it was very well thought out. The place has a Showa-era atmosphere, and despite being on a main road near the station, it wasn't too noisy. It seems like a fine option for an overnight girls' trip, and I'd like to stay again sometime. It's close to the station, with restaurants and convenience stores along the way. There are also places to eat inside the station, so picking up food there could be a good idea.

The staff were polite when I stayed, but trying to recover something I might have left behind was frustrating. They couldn't seem to identify my room even after I gave my name, and kept repeating that I hadn't left anything. Since I live far away, I asked them to send it if they found something. They told me to call again the next day, then went back to insisting nothing was there. It felt like they wanted to end the conversation, and I was disappointed.

I canceled right after the call. I'd booked a room for my daughter's university entrance exams, and Kinki Tourist's email said unaccompanied minors and students under 20 needed a parent or guardian's consent form, and should contact the hotel in advance. When I called, the person said, “If it says you want a consent form, then you must want one, right? I have another call coming in, so yes,” and hung up. I can't believe a hotel would speak to me that way. I wouldn't even give it one star.